UNIVERSAL FLASH SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PETROLEUM RESERVOIR FLUIDS STUDY

摘要

A flash system and method is disclosed to control the rate of flashing a reservoir fluid sample from reservoir conditions to a given pressure and temperature in order to produce a liquid and a gas phase of the sample. The flash system comprises a flash apparatus including a separating chamber, a metering valve positioned at an inlet of the separating chamber, and a gas flow meter positioned at an outlet of the separating chamber. A pump is provided to displace the sample from a sample chamber to the flash apparatus, wherein the pump speed and the discharge rate of the metering valve can be automatically controlled. The flash system may be used in a laboratory environment and at the site of an oilfield reservoir. The present disclosure provides a universal flash system and method that can limit operator actions to a minimum of simple operations to ensure the repeatability of the process independent of the operator's skill.